A quick bit of history: Captain Iven C. Kincheloe—an Air Force test pilot back in the 1950s—was the first to climb a research aircraft above 100,000 feet, eventually peaking at 126,200 feet. He died in 1958 following an accident in an F-104. It’s in his honor that the Iven C. Kincheloe Award for exceptional contributions to aerospace was created, an annual award now bestowed by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP).
Garmin’s Chief Test Pilot Wins the Kincheloe Award
Key Takeaways:
- The Iven C. Kincheloe Award, presented annually by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), honors Captain Iven C. Kincheloe, a pioneering Air Force test pilot.
- Tom Carr, Garmin's director of flight operations and chief test pilot, was the recipient of the 2020 Kincheloe Award.
- Carr was recognized for his instrumental work in achieving FAA certification for Garmin’s Autoland system, conducting hundreds of development flights and automated landings.
- His career spans over 42 years as a test pilot, including 17 years at Garmin where he contributed to the certification of numerous flight systems.
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